Life membership for Wood
Johanna Wood has been made a life member of Central Football.
The Manawatu¯ woman was given the honour at Central Football’s 20th annualmeeting at the Sport and Rugby Institute in Palmerston North last week.
The meeting had been postponed because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Wood, a former Central Football chairwoman, is now New Zealand Football president and a FIFA council member. Wood acknowledged her family, in particular her late father who was a Petone stalwart inwellington and instrumental in giving her a love of football.
She said it was only in later years she uncovered both her parents’ link to Petone as committee members, but she fondly remembered many days watching football and the community comaraderie at the clubrooms as a youngster.
Wood acknowledged the Red Sox-manawatu¯ club of which she had been amember of for many years and her four children all played for.
Wood said last year was a memorable year for her as she completed her doctorate at Massey University, was elected to the role of president at the New Zealand Football congress in May, and also elected to the FIFA council, one of only 37 people in the world in this group.
Central Football chairman Jamie Hall said the federation would not be in the sound position it now was if not for Wood’s outstanding leadership, governance, management skills and passion.
In other business, Whanganui Football chairman and longstanding club volunteer Jason King was awarded honorary membership to Central Football. He has had involvement in governance, playing and coaching, where he has been instrumental in creating and supporting coaching programmes. Boardmember Kevin Palfreyman retired after eight years of service. Manawatu¯’s Rori Moore and Gisborne’s Garrett Blair were elected to the board.